Independent dog care guides · Sourced from veterinary references · Written for owners everywhereHow we workPet insurance
Straight answers for dog people, everywhere.
Hound Handbook
Insurance guide
Breed profile

Otterhound

Big, shaggy, rare British scent hound with webbed feet and a booming voice. Amiable and boisterous.

Weight
36–52 kg79–115 lb
Height
61–69 cm24–27 in
Lifespan
10–13 yrs
Group
Hound
Origin
England
Popularity
#189 US#189 UK · 2025

Known for: Family dogsGood with other dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Amiable, Boisterous, Even-tempered, Determined.

Health problems to know about

  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Epilepsy
  • Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (bleeding disorder)

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour or two of exercise a day, ideally with swimming and scent trails. Brush the rough coat weekly and wash the beard. Feed smaller meals to lower bloat risk.

A good fit for

Rural homes, families who don't mind mess, and owners who like a sociable hound.

Probably not ideal for

Close neighbours, house-proud owners, and anyone expecting off-lead obedience.

Sources

  1. Otterhound Dog Breed Information | American Kennel Club
  2. Otterhound | Breeds A to Z | The Royal Kennel Club
  3. Otterhound | Wikipedia

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
Black and Tan Coonhound with long ears standing on a clover lawn

Black and Tan Coonhound

A big, mellow American scent hound bred to tree raccoons at night. Easygoing indoors, single-minded on a trail, and loud when it finds one.

Head of a Treeing Walker Coonhound with a white blaze against a green park background

Treeing Walker Coonhound

A fast, tricolour American coonhound descended from foxhounds. Friendly and mellow at home, tireless on a scent, with a ringing bay.

A solid red Redbone Coonhound stands side-on in a grassy field, looking up and to the right

Redbone Coonhound

A solid red American scent hound bred to tree raccoons. Easygoing at home, nose-led and loud outdoors.

Backlit profile portrait of a yellow Labrador Retriever against a soft dark background

Labrador Retriever

The world's favourite family dog for good reason: steady, eager and food-obsessed.

Related guides

Fluffy white Bichon Frise on a rock beside a lake, with the Manhattan skyline behind
Breeds

Best Dog Breeds for Apartments: 12 Honest Picks (and What Matters)

The best apartment dogs are calm and quiet, not just small. Twelve breeds with honest pros and cons, why mixed breeds are worth a look, and building pet rules.

9 min read · 8 sources